It was directed by Hiroshi Shidara and written by Morihisa Yamamoto. Hayao Miyazaki played a decisive role in developing structure, characters and designs for this film, whose credits list him as Key Animator and Organizer. Seiichiro Uno wrote original music for the film.[2]

It was released on 18 July 1971 in Japan under the title アリババと40匹の盗賊 (Aribaba to Yonjūbiki no Tozuku).[3] Other releases followed, including: